Rug cleaning apparatus



y 6, 1967 J. K. FRAZER 3,319,278

RUG CLEANING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 18, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 wag/role. JAMES K. FRA ZER ATTORNEY,

y 6, 1967 J. K. FRAZER 3,319,278

RUG CLEANING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 18, 1965 //K I All wwswrae JAMES K. FRAZER May 16, 1967 K. FRAZER' RUG CLEANING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet Filed Aug. 18, 1965 flYVA/TOR. James K. FRHZER United States Patent 3,319,278 RUG CLEANING APPARATUS James K. Frazer, Santa Ana, Calif., assignor to Glamorene, Inc., Clifton, N..I., a corporation of New York Filed Aug. 18, 1965, Ser. No. 480,584 8 Claims. (Cl. 115-411) This invention relates generally to rug cleaning apparatus, and more particularly, relates to a roller brush apparatus effective to work dry cleaning agents through the nap of carpets and rugs to cause such cleaning agents to pick up and hold dirt and other soiling materials which have found their way onto and into the fibers of the carpeting or rug. The cleaning agent is thereafter removed in the usual manner by vacuum cleaning the carpeting.

In the past, such dry type cleaning agents have been applied to rugs and carpets by means of a long handled brush or broom of the floor scrubber type. Such brushes or brooms while usable on low pile or thin carpeting are relatively difficult to use on medium pile and thick carpeting because penetration of the brush bristles into the carpet to a sufficient depth to provide adequate cleaning so engages the brush bristles with the carpet pile that it is diflicult, and in some instances substantially impossible, to cause the brush bristles to move through the carpet pile. This condition results from the fact that the brush bristles are moved relative to the carpeting solely by a lateral displacement or dragging movement. Elimination of this drag motion, as for example by utilizing a device to provide a rolling motion, while rendering the brush much more easily movable relative to the carpeting simultaneously prevents the necessary working of the dry cleaning agent into the nap so that completely unacceptable cleaning of the rug or carpeting results. Accordingly, it is a primary object of this invention to provide a novel rug cleaning apparatus which utilizes brush devices for working a cleaning agent into the carpet nap in which the movement of the working brushes with respect to the underlying carpeting is partly a rolling motion and partly a dragging movement to effect good penetration of the brush bristles into the nap of the carpeting to provide deep cleaning while retaining the ability of the brushes to be moved without undue physical effort by the operator.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel rug cleaning apparatus as aforesaid which includes means for adjusting the cleaning brushes for movement with respect to the underlying carpet so that the degree of roll and the degree of drag of the brushes may be selectively varied to provide optimum cleaning conditions for carpeting and rugs of different pile height and thickness.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel rug cleaning apparatus as aforesaid which includes a pair of generally cylindrical elongated roller brushes arranged in a V-formation with the vertex angle of the V-formed brushes being selectively adjustable between acute and obtuse angles.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention will appear more clearly hereinafter from a reading of the following specification in conjunction with an examination of the appended drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of the working head of the novel rug cleaning apparatus according to the invention showing the underlying brushes in dotted line and a fragment of the elongated upstanding handle used for manipulating the apparatus;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevation of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a bottom view of the apparatus of FIG- UR-E l with a portion of one of the roller brushes broken away to disclose an underlying detail;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged vertical jump section through the rug cleaning apparatus as would be seen when viewed along the line 44 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged transverse vertical section through the apparatus as would be seen when viewed along the line 5--5 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 6 is an end view of one of the roller brushes and its supporting structure as would be seen when viewed along the line 66 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 7 is a vertical section through the adjusting knob structure of the apparatus as would be seen when viewed along the line 77 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 8 is a diagrammatic showing of the apparatus according to the invention illustrating the roller brushes adjusted to provide an acute angle therebetween for increased drag and decreased roll; and

FIGURE 9 is a diagrammatic showing of the apparatus similar to that of FIGURE 8 but with the roller brushes adjusted into an obtuse angular relationship to provide the maximum roll and minimum drag attainable within the adjustment range of the apparatus.

In the several figures, like elements are denoted by like reference characters.

Referring now to the figures, and firstly to FIGURES l to 3, there is seen the rug cleaning apparatus designated generally as 10 including a V-shaped brush housing 11 having a top wall 12 and a peripherally extending depending skirt 13 extending downward toward but being spaced upward above the underlying carpet. Extending upward at an angle from the housing top Wall 12 is an operating handle 14 secured in a cylindrical formation 15 formed integrally with the top wall 12 of the housing 11. Disposed within the housing 11 below the top wall 12 are a pair of cylindrical brushes 16 rotatably carried on brackets 17 and 18 which are angularly adjustable relative to one another and to the housing 11 by means of an adjustment knob 19.

Referring now additionally to FIGURES 4 through 7, it is observed that the housing front and rear skirts 13a and 13b respectively are bridged by reinforcing ribs 20, 21 and 22 depending from the undersurface of housing top wall 12. The ribs 20 are located substantially medially of each of the arms of the V-shaped housing 11, the ribs 21 are each located proximate to the ends of the housing arms, and the rib 22 extends apically from front to back centrally between the cylindrical brushes 16. As best seen in FIGURES 3, 4 and 5, reinforcing ribs 20 are each provided with a central horizontally enlarged bushing formation 23 into which is threaded a shoulder screw 24, the smooth shank portion of the shoulder screw outside of the bushing 23 being disposed within an elongated slot 25 cut centrally through and extending longitudinally of each of the brush brackets 17 and 18.

Each of the brush brackets is of inverted U-shape with the base of the bracket designated as 26 extending horizontally parallel to and spaced from the longitudinally extending cylindrical surface of the brushes 16 and having depending outboard and inboard legs 27 and 28 respectively which each carry a bushing 29 within which are rotatably disposed the axles 30 extending axially through and beyond the opposite ends of the cylindrical brushes 16. As best seen from FIGURES 2, 3 and 4, the inboard bushings 29 are projected through circular apertures cut through inboard legs 28 while the outboard bushings 29 are snapped into slotted apertures cut upward from the lower edge of and into outboard legs 27. This construction permits easy removal from and reinstallation into the brackets 17 and 18 of the cylindrical brushes 16 by snapping the outboard bushings 29 downward out of the outboard bracket legs 27 so that the brushes 16 may then be end shifted out of the inboard brackets 22 and removed from the unit for adjustment, replacement or cleanmg.

As best seen in FIGURES 3, 4 and 7, the central reinforcing rib 22 of the housing 11 is formed with a frontto-rear-extending annular oval formation 31 having vertically extending side walls 32 which form a front-to-rearextending slot 33 also cut through the housing top wall 12. Disposed within the oval formation 31 and extending vertically therethrough below the lower edge thereof and :above the upper surface of the housing top wall 12 is a Ithreaded stud 34 upon the upper end of which is threadedly engaged the adjustment knob 19. The lower end of the stud 34 which projects below the walls of the oval formation 31 projects freely through a hole punched through an extension 35 of base leg 26 of brush bracket Y17 and is rigidly afiixed to the underlying free end 36 of a similar longitudinal extension of the base leg of brush lbra'cket 18.

As best seen from FIGURE 4, the height of oval formation sidewalls 32 together with the length of threaded stud 34 and the length of adjustment knob hub 37 is such that clockwise rotation of the adjustment knob 19 onto the stud 34 places the stud 34 in tension and locks the extensions 35 and 36 of the brackets 17 and 18 against the underside of the oval formation 31 to thereby fixedly position the brush holding brackets 17 and 18 with respect to the brush housing 11.

Angular adjustment of the cylindrical brushes 16 from a maximally acute angle as shown in FIGURE 8 to a maximally obtuse angle as shown in FIGURE 9 is accomplished by loosening the adjustment knob 19 on the stud 34 and pushing the stud longitudinally rearwardly through the slot 33 in the housing top wall 12 to the desired position, and then retightening the adjustment knob 19. Movement of the stud 34 in a forward direction through the slot 33 causes the brush holding brackets 17 and 18 to also pivot about shoulder screws 24 and slide longitudinally forward with respect thereto as permitted by the longitudinally extending bracket base leg slots 25. Similarly, rearward movement of the stud 34 through slot 33 also causes the brush carrying brackets 17 and 18 to pivot in the opposite sense about shoulder screws 24 and to slide longitudinally rearward with respect thereto.

For thick rugs, an obtuse angle adjustment, as for example shown in FIGURE 9, would be utilized to provide a larger rolling component and a smaller drag component of roller motion, while for thin rugs a smaller angle of adjustment, as for example that of FIGURE 8, would be better utilized to reduce the rolling and increase the drag motion of the brushes 16. It has been found that an optimum average setting for most rugs and carpet is that wherein the angle between the axes of cylindrical brushes 16 is substantially 110. The maximum useful angle for thick rugs has been found to be substantially 150 while the minimum satisfactory angle for thin carpeting has been determined to be substantially 70. Obviously, the structural arrangement allows for continu- :ous angular adjustment of the brushes between the useful angular limits of 70 and 150 so that the best angle for any specific rug or carpeting may be readily deter- :mined by the user for optimum cleaning effect without undue physical exertion.

As will be realized from the drawings, the apparatus is extremely simple in construction and is readily dismantled for cleaning or parts replacement. The brushes are preferably of the bristle type, while the structural portions of the apparatus may be formed of suitable plastics or metals or partly of both.

Having now described my invention in connection with a particularly illustrated embodiment thereof, it will be appreciated that modifications and variations thereof may now naturally occur from time to time to those persons normally skilled in the art Without departing from the ,essential scope .orspirit of the invention, and accordingly it is intended to claim the same broadly as well as specifically as indicated by the appended claims.

What is claimed to be new and useful is:

1. Apparatus for working cleaning agents into and through the nap of carpeting comprising in combination,

(a) a housing having a generally V-shaped top Wall with a peripherally extending depending skirt and an apically located front-to-rear extending elonogted depending annular formation open at top and bottom by a slot;

(b) a pair of generally U-shaped brackets with each bracket having, a base leg with an elongated slot extending longitudinally of a portion thereof, a pair of opposite end legs extending from the said base leg, :a snap-out snap-in brush axle end supporting bearing carried by each bracket end leg, and a base leg extension extending in longitudinal continuation of the base leg beyond one of said end legs, said brackets being disposed in inverted-U position under the top wall of said housing and within the confines of said depending housing skirt with their base leg extensions overlapped and positioned beneath the hous ing depending slotted annular formation and with each bracket extending longitudinally into a different arm of the V-shaped housing, said brackets being each secured to the housing by a shoulder screw projected freely upward through the said slot in the base leg of each bracket and threadedly engaged into the above lying housing;

(c) a stud extending vertically through said housing annular formation and being shiftable laterally from front to back through the slot thereof with the stud lower end projecting relatively close fittingly freely through an aperture in the base leg extension of the upper one of said pair of overlapped bracket extensions and being held captive to the base leg extension of the underlying one of said pair of overlapped bracket extensions, the upper end of said stud being threaded and having threaded downward thereonto the hub of an adjusting knob, said knob when turned in one direction drawing up said stud and thereby locking said bracket extensions against the underside of said housing annular formation to prevent shifting of said stud, and said knob when turned in the opposite direction releasing said bracket extensions and permitting said stud to be shifted laterally through the slot in said housing annular for mation; I

'( d) a pair of elongated cylindrical brushes each formed by a multiplicity of substantially equal length bristles extending radially from an axle coincident With the cylindrical axis of the brush, the opposite ends or the axle of each brush being freely rotatably disposed within the said bearings carried by the end legs of said brackets respectively; and

(e) an operating handle connected to and extending upward and rearward from said housing so that a projection of the line of action of said handle onto the plane of the top wall substantially bisects the angle of the V-shaped housing top wall.

2. In apparatus for working cleaning agents into and through the nap of carpeting, comprising in combination,

(a) a pair of generally cylindrical brushes each having a multiplicity of radially extending bristles with each brush being rotatable about an axis of symmetry passing longitudinally therethrough,

(b) support means including bracket means carrying said brushes for free rotation about their axes of symmetry with said axes intersecting at a point outside of and substantially equispaced from one end of each of said brushes to thereby position said brushes in a V-formation,

(c) adjusting means carried by said support means and coupled to said brush carrying bracket means operative to selectively shift the latter to change the vertex angle of the brushes V-formation as desired within predetermined limits.

3. The apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said support means further includes a housing having a topwall, and said bracket means includes a separate bracket for each said brush, each bracket being carried by said housing beneath the topwall thereof by means permitting shifting movement of said brackets relative to said housing.

4. The apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said support means further includes a housing having a topwall, and said bracket means includes a separate bracket for each said brush, each bracket being carried by said housing beneath the topwall thereof by means permitting shifting movement of said brackets relative to said housing, said adjusting means being coupled to both of said brush carrying brackets and shifting the same simultaneously and substantially symmetrically when operated to change the brush V-formation vertex angle.

5. In apparatus for working cleaning agents into and through the nap of carpeting, comprising in combination,

(a) a pair of generally cylindrical brushes each having a multiplicity of radially extending bristles with each brush being rotatable about an axis of symmetry passing longitudinally therethrough,

(b) support means including bracket means carrying said brushes for free rotation about their axes of symmetry with said axes intersecting at a point outside of and substantially equispaced from one end of each of said brushes to thereby position said brushes in a V-formation,

(c) adjusting means carried by said support means and coupled to said brush carrying bracket means operative to selectively shift the latter to change the vertex angle of the brushes V-formation as desired within predetermined limits between an acute angle and an obtuse angle,

(d) and an operating handle connected to and extending upward and rearward from said support means along a line such that a projection thereof onto the plane of the brushes axes substantially bisects the angle made by the V-formed brushes.

6. The apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein said support means further includes a housing having a topwall, and said bracket means includes a separate bracket for each said brush, each bracket being carried by said housing beneath the top wall thereof by means permitting shifting movement of said brackets relative to said housing, said adjusting means being coupled to both of said brush carrying brackets and shifting the same simultaneously and substantially symmetrically when operated to change the brush V-formation vertex angle.

7. Apparatus for working cleaning agents into and through the nap of carpeting comprising in combination,

(a) a housing having a generally V-shaped top wall with a peripherally extending depending skirt,

(b) a pair of generally U-shaped brackets with each bracket having, a base leg with an elongated slot extending longitudinally of a portion thereof, a pair of opposite end legs extending from the said base leg, a snap-out snap-in brush axle end supporting bearing carried by each bracket end leg, said brackets being disposed in inverted-U position under the top wall of said housing and within the confines of said depending housing skirt with the brackets positioned relative to one another to form a V having its apex beneath that of the V-shaped housing top wall and with each bracket extending longitudinally into a different arm of the V-shaped housing, said brackets being each held captive to the housing for shifting movement with respect thereto by means projected freely upward through the said slot in the base leg of each bracket,

(c) a pair of elongated cylindrical brushes each having a multiplicity of bristles extending radially therefrom With each lbrush being rotated about an axle coincident with the cylindrical axis of the brush, the opposite ends of the axle of each brush being freely rotatably disposed within the said bearings carried by the end legs of said brackets respectively.

8. Apparatus for working cleaning agents into and through the nap of carpeting comprising in combination,

(a) a housing having a top Wall with a peripherally extending depending skirt,

(b) a pair of inverted U-shaped brackets each having a base leg and a pair of opposite end legs extending from the base leg, a snap-in snap-out brush axle end supporting bearing carried by each such end leg, said brackets being arranged in V-formation beneath said housing top wall with the vertex pointing toward the front of the housing and being secured to the housing :by means permitting shifting movement of said brackets with respect to one another and to said housing,

(c) a pair of elongated cylindrical brushes each having an axle and each of which is carried by a different one of said brackets with the opposite axle ends respectively disposed for rotation in the end bearings carried by the brackets opposite end legs so that said brushes are also arranged in V-formation beneath the housing top wall and said brackets,

(d) adjusting means coupled to said brackets at the vertex of the said brackets V-formation operative to shift said brackets to vary the vertex angle of the V-formation of said brushes,

(e) means for locking said brackets at a desired vertex angle, and

(f) handle means extending upward and rearward from a point of securement to said housing operative for moving said apparatus over a carpet with a forward and backward movement.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 631,837 8/1899 Wilkins 15-41 2,941,223 6/ 1960 Klauer 15-79 FOREIGN PATENTS 528,899 7/ 1931 Germany. 882,860 7/ 1953 Germany.

24,821 of 1909' Great Britain.

CHARLES A. WILLMUTH, Primary Examiner, E. L. ROBERTS, Assistant Examiner, 

2. IN APPARATUS FOR WORKING CLEANING AGENTS INTO AND THROUGH THE NAP OF CARPETING, COMPRISING IN COMBINATION, (A) A PAIR OF GENERALLY CYLINDRICAL BRUSHES EACH HAVING A MULTIPLICITY OF RADIALLY EXTENDING BRISTLES WITH EACH BRUSH BEING ROTATABLY ABOUT AN AXIS OF SYMMETRY PASSING LONGITUDINALLY THERETHROUGH, (B) SUPPORT MEANS INCLUDING BRACKET MEANS CARRYING SAID BRUSHES FOR FREE ROTATION ABOUT THEIR AXES OF SYMMETRY WITH SAID AXES INTERSECTING AT A POINT OUTSIDE OF AND SUBSTANTIALLY EQUISPACED FROM ONE END OF EACH OF SAID BRUSHES TO THEREBY POSITION SAID BRUSHES IN A V-FORMATION, (C) ADJUSTMENT MEANS CARRIED BY SAID SUPPORT MEANS AND COUPLED TO SAID BRUSH CARRYING BRACKET MEANS OPERATIVE TO SELECTIVELY SHIFT THE LATTER TO CHANGE THE VERTEX ANGLE OF THE BRUSHES V-FORMATION AS DESIRED WITHIN PREDETERMINED LIMITS. 